SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5666

                As Passed Senate, March 5, 1999

Title:  An act relating to acquisition of vehicles and parts by vehicle wreckers.

Brief Description:  Simplifying acquisitions procedures for wreckers.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Long, Goings, Johnson and Haugen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/9/99, 2/17/99 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/5/99, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5666 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Horn, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  A vehicle wrecker must keep books or files on every major component part acquired by the wrecker.  The major component parts must be identified by the vehicle identification number of the vehicle from which the part came.  The wrecker's books must also include information regarding the vehicle that was the source of the major component part.  Failure to comply with these requirements is a gross misdemeanor.

When an owner of a vehicle transfers his or her vehicle, he or she must provide a report of sale to the Department of Licensing.  The report of sale must include the date of the sale or transfer, the name and address of the owner and of the transferee, and a description of the vehicle.  Within 15 days after delivery of the vehicle, the buyer must apply for a new certificate of title.

Within 30 days after acquiring a vehicle, a wrecker must furnish a report to the Department of Licensing.  The report must be accompanied by evidence of ownership of the vehicle.

Summary of Bill:  "Core" is defined as a major component part received by a vehicle wrecker in exchange for a like part sold by the wrecker.  Cores are exempt from the record-keeping requirements for major component parts.  Cores may only be sold for scrap metal value or remanufacture.

An interim owner is an individual in possession of the vehicle and to whom the previous owner assigned the certificate of ownership.

No vehicle wrecker may acquire a vehicle from an interim owner without first obtaining evidence of ownership as determined by the Department of Licensing.  Evidence of ownership does not include a certificate of ownership in the name of the interim owner.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Currently, interim owners must have a vehicle declared abandoned because the wrecker is not able to pick up the vehicle.  This legislation merely clarifies the law and enables a wrecker to pick up a vehicle when the certificate of ownership has been assigned to the interim owner.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; Gary Smith, Independent Business Assn. (pro); Stu Halsan, WA Tow Truck Assn. (pro); Randy Houston, WA Tow Truck Assn. (pro).

House Amendment(s):  Wreckers must keep the name of the person from whom they obtained the core in their records for three years.